From Sassenage to Engins via the Pont Charvet, returning along the left bank of the Furon

Start from the centre of Sassenage village, Chemin des Cuves.

(S/E) Take the Chemin des Cuves to the left of the pharmacy (signposted “Cuves”), pass between a few houses to emerge into a park. Opposite, the Chemin des Cuves continues up the hill. Beautiful views of the Furon. When you reach the crossing over the stream coming from the resurgence (tables and benches), cross the footbridge over the stream (admire the water emerging from the cave at Gouffre Berger – which is open to visitors), climb a few steps opposite, then immediately descend a few metres to rejoin the Furon. Do not cross the footbridge in front of you below; turn left and head up the very steep path.
There are some beautiful views of the gorges. Keep following them along this right bank (with the river on your right) without straying onto any side paths, as they all lead to dead ends. About a kilometre further up, there is another footbridge taking you across to the left bank; the river is now on your left. On your right are old openwork stone retaining walls. Pass underneath them, turn round and head back under the retaining walls towards the east; this path runs along the left bank of the gorges (you now have the Furon on your right, with lovely views from above) before reaching a sort of car park with the ‘Les Côtes’ bus stop and access to the road.
You are now in the upper part of the village of Sassenage. Turn left and walk up Rue Pierre Dalloz for 50 metres. At the next crossroads, admire the façades.

(1) Nearby, you’ll find the first signpost: “Barrage d’Engins 5.2 km”.
Walk up Rue du Moulin and then Rue du Maquis (path marked with yellow arrows). At the next junction, turn left onto Rue Deyau. It ends after 100 metres but gives way to a wide, stony path that gradually curves to the right and climbs towards a staircase made of railway sleepers. At the top, a small shrine shelters a statue of the Virgin and Child.
Turn left towards the south and follow the Route du Pont Charvet, following the sign for “Barrage d’Engins 4.65 km”

(2) A little further up is the Resistance memorial commemorating 1 August 1944. Another 30 metres and you’ll cross over the Furon on a concrete footbridge, the Pont Charvet. Follow the very steep stony path uphill. At the second bend, there’s a wooden barrier (viewpoint). Continue climbing the path and follow the signposts for “Barrage d’Engins” or the yellow arrows on 1-metre-high wooden posts. The climb is a bit tough through the undergrowth. You pass through the hamlet of Les Fonds Bonniers at an altitude of 700m, then the hamlet of Mollard at 900m.

(3) Turn right here towards the south-west towards Engins (estimated walking time: 50 mins). You’ll walk along the Route des Ayettes, a path that becomes increasingly passable by vehicle, with houses near the Engins Dam (information boards).

(4) After crossing the dam, a somewhat hidden sign for “Engins / les Jaux” marks a path that climbs a few metres to join the road from Sassenage to Villard-de-Lans in Engins. Pass the town boundary sign and proceed to the next junction. Cross carefully at the junction to take Rue Joseph Coynel (road sign “Engins centre”).

Return to Sassenage: follow Rue Joseph Coynel for about 100 metres and turn right onto Route de Pierrelat. Continue along this road, following the yellow and green markings dotted along the way, which will take you back to Route de Villard at the house known as Chez Harika.
Cross Route de Villard carefully, pass the Chez Harika house and head straight on along Chemin de la Patache. Further down, continuing straight on as you descend, avoid Chemin du Furon on the right and a few overgrown paths that lead back up to the road on the left.

(5) There is just one fork at the bottom of Chemin de la Patache; take the small, recently laid path on the right which runs below a house. Another fork: take the right-hand path and you’ll arrive safely at the hairpin bend.
Follow the right-hand side of the road downhill for a few metres and head to the “Engins – Usine 153-06” bus stop.

(6) There is a track leading down from this point. 200m further on, it turns right. Ignore it, continue straight ahead and you will reach the Pont Charvet and the Furon on its left bank (the stream will be on your right).
Head back down to the village for 2 km, following the signs for “Sassenage village”. You’ll go down via Chemin de la Vierge, Route de la Gorge, Rue du Maquis, Rue du Moulin, Rue Pierre Dalloz and finally Chemin des Côtes. As you go, you’ll pass the Domaine de Beauregard (a rather inconspicuous neo-Disney-style château). Turn left at the bottom and you’ll arrive in the centre of Sassenage opposite a fountain on Rue du Vercors. Turn right to return to the starting point (S/E).

Water points on Rue du Maquis in Sassenage. Wear walking boots and use walking poles
Do not go up when it is raining, it is slippery!
Wear a "patience harness" on the ascent; the climb is steep but the rest of the walk is pleasant.

The descent route is used for horse riding. Horses are taken up to their summer pastures on the penultimate weekend in June; enquire at “La Chevauchée” in Sassenage.

(Updated on 21 April 2018 regarding Rue de la Patache in Engins and Chemin des Cuves in the Gorges du Furon, following changes to the trail).

Traditional houses in the upper part of Sassenage, scattered settlements in Engins. Explanations about the dam and its function.